Konoha Pirates.
Hawkeye Mihawk lay on the deck, drenched from head to toe.
This voyage was originally meant to meet Straw Hat Luffy mentioned by Shanks. His curiosity about strangers led him to this defeat, which seemed inevitable.
However...
This made Mihawk even more curious about this pirate crew.
Because Uchiha Madara, who defeated him, didn't seem like a Devil Fruit User and even fished him out of the sea, completely unlike a cursed duck.
"Sir..."
"Why not kill me?"
Mihawk looked at the back of Uchiha Madara.
"Killing you would be too wasteful; we're taking you along for a task..."
Uchiha Madara placed his foot beside Mihawk, looking down at the World's Number One Sword Master. He had heard from Red Sand Sasori about Akihara Kagura's mission, chuckling lightly: "Killing a Heavenly Celestial Dragon shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
"!!!"
A flicker of shock appeared in Mihawk's eyes!
This ship...
Isn't a legitimate pirate ship!
What legitimate pirate would think to kill Heavenly Celestial Dragons!
Moreover, why would they drag him along, not knowing he's appointed by the World Government as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?
This doesn't seem to be wanting to cause big trouble for him!
However, Mihawk had no way to refuse; he lost to Uchiha Madara and was now a captive. On top of that, he's somewhat curious about this pirate crew's situation—why they are so powerful yet unheard of. He decided to treat his time with the Konoha Pirates as a journey.
This pirate crew had few members, but none were simple characters. Each had extremely unique abilities, the strongest among them even made him feel apprehensive!
The only issue is...
The food on this ship isn't very reliable.
Everyone was eating a thing called Soldier Pill, which was so unpalatable it made one want to vomit. It's unknown how much hardship they could endure to eat such stuff...
However...
Soldier Pill could surprisingly restore some Haki and Spiritual Power!
In that case...
The crew's food isn't exactly stingy and is even somewhat excessively luxurious.
Yet, Mihawk, who was used to fine dining, still couldn't stand the taste of Soldier Pill and voluntarily took up the role of chef, preparing them a meal that humans can eat.
"Please stay here as our chef!"
Senju Hashirama sincerely invited Mihawk to join the pirate crew, not caring about his World's Number One Sword Master title, only treasuring his exquisite culinary skills!
"..."
Mihawk shook his head, sincerely declining his invitation: "Sorry, I don't wish to join any pirate crew."
Especially...
This crew is soon going to assassinate Heavenly Celestial Dragons visiting the East Sea, evidently stirring up big trouble.
Nevertheless...
This does not hinder Mihawk from spending some time with them.
Mihawk was extraordinarily amazed that this pirate crew hadn't learned Haki yet mastered an ability more special than Haki, a power they termed as Chakra.
This Chakra...
Can even be bestowed upon others.
As compensation for teaching them Haki and Kenjutsu, Otsutsuki Kaguya gifted Mihawk a strand of Chakra and taught him the method of synthesizing Chakra.
It has to be said...
Chakra is an incredibly convenient ability.
Just the ability to walk on water made the World's Number One Sword Master quite thrilled, as it permitted him to fight unrestrainedly on the ocean!
Besides...
Chakra could be used for other miraculous techniques!
Whether it's Fire Release, Water Release, Wind Release, or Lightning Release, these miraculous abilities wouldn't leave anyone unmoved. If any power learned of them, they'd certainly keep a close eye on such abilities!
Unfortunately, the techniques utilizing Chakra could only be employed by these people before him. Hawkeye Mihawk wasn't an academic genius in Chakra, and had to fumble through the paths of Chakra's deployment himself...
Speaking of the origin of Chakra...
Mihawk learned from this group that Otsutsuki Kaguya had consumed a Chakra Fruit, perhaps Chakra was her Demon Fruit ability.
"Similar to the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit..."
Mihawk slowly synthesized the Chakra within himself, recalling an Emperor on the sea, Charlotte Lingling, who could seize others' souls, forcibly give life to inanimate objects!
The Chakra Fruit...
Might be even stronger than the Soul-Soul Fruit!
Because this fruit ability could endow others with new powers!
"In that case..."
Mihawk observed the ninjas attempting to awaken and train in Haki, subconsciously mulling over: "Perhaps the world's situation will change from now on..."
"That man has obtained Chakra."
Red Sand Sasori had been quietly observing Hawkeye Mihawk's every move, slowly reporting back in his mind: "As long as you provide him Chakra as a seed, it seems he can also synthesize Chakra himself, at least has the Chakra on a Kage-level..."
"Did you guys awaken Haki?"
Akihara Kagura's voice echoed in Red Sand Sasori's mind.
"Observation Haki and Armament Haki are relatively easy, merely a fusion transformation of Spiritual and Physical Power..."
When Red Sand Sasori mentioned this, he couldn't help but marvel at the disparity between people: "But Dracule Mihawk brought up a kind of Supreme King Haki, said to be rare among millions, awakening grants one kingly qualifications. Except for Orochimaru and myself, everyone else awakened Supreme King Haki..."